Body massaging device



June 25, 1963 A. J. KRENZKE ETAL 3,094,932

' BODY MASSAGING DEVICE Filed Aug. 28, 1961 ll 1 mmumnuunll n ROBERT L. FOXfi/E ALFRED RENZKE By: 7'7'ORNE) BQDY MASSAGING DEVICE Alfred J. Krenzke and Robert L. Fox, Sn, Racine, Wis, assignors to Allover Clipper Products (30., Racine, Wis, a partnership Filed Aug. 28, 1961, Ser. No. 134,526 6 Claims. (Cl. 128-32) This invention relates to a massaging device, and/or particularly, it relates to a body massaging device which can be converted between the units of a foot massager and a back relaxer.

It is an object of this invention to provide a massaging device which can be used both for massaging a persons foot and for massaging a persons back or the like portion of the body, which is relatively inaccessible to the user.

Another object of this invention is to provide an adapter for a vibrating machine wherein different attachments can be connected to the machine and used in the process of massaging a persons body.

Still another object of this invention is to provide a supporting member or stand for use in a massaging device so that the device can be placed upon the floor or the like and used as a foot massager, and the device can then also be readily converted into a back massager by removing the vibrating machine from the stand and holding the machine or vibrator in the hand.

Other objects and advantages will become apparent upon reading the following description in light of the accompanying drawings wherein:

FIG. 1 is a top plan view of a massaging device of this invention and showing the vibrating unit and the foot massaging member in dotted lines.

PKG. 2 is a side elevational view of that shown in FIG. 1.

FIG. 3 is a top plan view of the shaft or adapter shown dotted in FIG. 1.

FIG. 4 is a side elevational view of the shaft end shown in FIG. 3.

FIG. 5 is a side elevational view of a fragment of the foot massager member shown in FIGS. 1 and 2.

FIG. 6 is a side elevational view of a fragment of a back relaxer or massaging member.

FIG. 7 is a bottom plan view of the member shown in FIG. 6.

- FIG. 8 is a side elevational View of a conventional thumb screw.

The same reference numerals refer to the same parts throughout the several views.

FIGS. 1 and 2 show a massaging device which includes a vibrating unit generally designated 10 and which is shown in dotted lines in FIGS. 1 and 2. The unit it) includes a casing designated 11 and it is further shown to have an enlarged portion 13 and a reduced handle or hand grip portion 14. Of course an electrical wire designated 16 is fragmentarily shown and it would of course extend into the casing 11 so that the vibrator 10 is of the electrically powered type in the embodiment shown. Further, the vibrator 10 includes the shaft or adapter desig nated 17 and it is shown to extend beyond the casing 11 and thereabove when the vibrator 10 is in the position shown in FIGS. 1 and 2. Also, an electric switch is provided on the casing 11. Details of the member 17 will be described later. FIGS. 1 and 2 also show a foot massaging member or disc 18 which has a threaded stud 19 depending centrally therebelow for threading into the threaded opening 21 in the upper end of the shaft or member 17.

FIGS. 1 and 2 further show a supporting member or stand generally designated 22 and which supports the vibrator 10 in the position shown in FIGS. 1 and 2. The

stand 22 includes the plate 23 and the spring clips or holding members 24 and 25 which are shown to be secured to the plate 23 by means of the rivets 26. The

spring clip 24 extends through a lower portion 27 and a bent upper portion 28 which is disposed to engage the front edge 2-9 of the vibrator casing 11 and thus secure disposed on opposite sides of the handle portion 14 of the casing 11.

At this time it will also be noted that the enlarged portion 12 of the casing 11 is thus secured between the spring clips 24 and 25 as the casing 11 cannot move with respect to the spring clips because of the position of the latter as related to the enlarged portion 12 of the casing 11. It will further be noted that the upper ends of the spring clips 24 and 25 do not extend to the horizontal plane of the adapter 17 and thus the latter protrudes above the clips 24 and 25 so that the clips do not interfere with the action of the massaging disc 18. It should of course be understood that the shaft 17 vibrates in a motion which reciprocates the shaft 17 along its axis in the usual manner of vibrator action and of course it is powered by the usual electro magnet included in the casing 11 in the well-known manner but not shown herein.

The base plate 23 is also provided with snap buttons 33 which of course project through the thickness of the base plate 23 in the usual manner of attaching a snap button to a member so that the upper portions 34 of the snap buttons 33 are disposed above the base plate 23. Still further, it will be noted that a support member or projection 36 is attached by means of a screw 37 to the base plate 23 and the member 36 extends above the base plate 23 to abut the lower surface 38 of the casing hand grip portion 14 and thus support the casing 11 in the desired stable and horizontal position shown on the stand 22.

It will therefore be understood that the vibrator 10 can be attached to and removed from the stand 22 as it is simply spring-clipped onto the stand and the foot massage-r member 18 is therefore available for use as desired and the vibrator 10 has been therefore converted into a foot massager as described.

FIGS. 6 and 7 show a back massaging member designated 4'1 and consisting of an elongated body portion 42 having a key-hole type of opening 43 in one end with notches 44 included in the opening 43 which is of course of a circular configuration as shown. The other end of the member 41 has an offset portion 46 which includes a plurality of fingers 47 separated by means of slits designated 43 in the portion 46. The extreme ends 49 of the portion 46 are further angled or offset to provide the tips or ends 49 for engagement of a persons back as the member 41 is used as a back massager and is mounted on the vibrator 10 in a manner hereinafter described. The member 41 is thus shown to be of at least the length of the vibrator l0 and it is therefore elongated and of a substantial length.

FIGS. 3 and 4 show the end of the shaft '17 or adapter 17 and it will here be seen that the adapter includes a circular shoulder portion 51 which has ofiset portions or projections 52 contiguous to the shoulder portion 51. In this instance, the projections 52 extend above the shoulder portion 51 and they are diametrically disposed so that the shouldered portion 51 and the projections 52 provide a T type of lock which is of the same configuration as the key hole opening 43 in the member. It will therefore be understood that the member 41 would be snugly disposed over the adapter end portion 53 and it would rest down on the shoulder portion 51 as the pro- Patented June 25, 1963 jections 52 engage the notches 44 in the member 41. Then a thumb screw 54 could be inserted into the threaded opening 2 1 to secure the member 41 thereto, and also the foot massager 18 can be threaded into the opening 21 alternately with the screw to secure both the foot massager 1'8 and the back massager 41 to the vibrator w simultaneously or separately as preferred.

While a specific embodiment of this invention has been shown and described, it will be understood that certain changes could be made therein and the invention therefore should be limited only by the scope of the appended claims.

What is claimed is:

1. In a combined and convertible body massaging device, the invention comprising an electro-magnetic vibrator with a casing including a hand-grip portion and another portion adapted tobe held in a persons hand and being reduced in cross-sectional dimension relative to said another portion of said casing, a support including releasable holding means engaged with said casing for releasably mounting said casing on said support with said holding means being disposed to be in contact with both said portions of said casing for securely holding the latter, a vibrating shaft included in said vibrator and projecting through said another portion of said casing and having a threaded opening therein, a foot massaging member including a threaded stud releasably threaded into said threaded opening and including a disc extending transverse to said shaft, and an elongated back massaging member releasably attached to said shaft and extending transverse thereto between said casing and said disc for selective use alternately with said foot massaging member.

2. In a combined and convertible foot and back massag-ing device, the invention comprising an electro-magnetic vibrator including a casing and a shaft for vibratory motion of the latter and with said shaft having a threaded opening in the end thereof, a shouldered portion on said shaft spaced from the limit of said end thereof, a portion on said shaft contiguous with said shouldered portion being offset with respect to the latter to form a T type of lock with said shouldered pontion, a foot massager member including a threaded stud releasably threaded into said opening and including a disc extending transverse to the axis of said stud, and an elongated back massager member having a keyhole type of opening therein on one end thereof and being mounted over said shaft and against said shouldered portion and intermediate the latter and said disc, and being of a length extending beyond said disc to be exposed therebeyond.

3. In a foot and back massaging device, the invention comprising an electro-magnetic vibrator including a casing and a shaft extending from said casing for vibratory motion of the latter and with said shaft having a threaded opening in the extending end thereof, a shouldered portion on said shaft spaced from the limit of said end thereof, a portion on said shaft contiguous with said shouldered portion being offset with respect to the latter to form a T type of lock with said shouldered portion, a foot massager member including a threaded stud threaded into said opening, and an elongated back massager member having a key-hole type of opening therein on one end 4 thereof and being releasably snugly mounted over said shaft and against said shouldered portion intermediate said casing and said foot massager member and extending beyond the latter, the other end of said back massager member being offset from the plane of the elongated body thereof and including spaced-apart finger portions.

4. In a massaging device, the invention comprising an electromagnetic vibrator including a casing having a handle portion at one end thereof and being of a reduced size relative to the remainder thereof, a shaft included in said vibrator and extending from said casing on one side thereof, a support member releasably attached to said casing for releasably supporting said casing With said shaft on the upper side thereof, said support member including a base plate and spring clips attached to said base plate and extending thereabove to a height below the plane of the upper end of said shaft, said spring clips being disposed both on opposite sides of said handle portion and at the other end of said casing opposite said handle portion, and a massaging element releasably attached to said shaft.

5. In a massaging device, the invention comprising a vibrator including a casing having a handle portion at one end thereof and being of a reduced size relative to the remainder thereof, a shaft included in said vibrator and extending from said casing on one side thereof, a support member releasably attached to said casing for releasably supporting said casing wtih said shaft on the upper side thereof, said support member including a base plate and spring clips attached to said base plate and extending thereabove, said spring clips being disposed partly at said handle portion and partly at the other end of said casing and disposed in a casing attaching position for said shaft to be centered with respect to said base plate, a projection on said base plate below said handle portion of said casing for uprightly supporting the latter against downward force, and a massaging element releasably attached to said shaft and being centered therewith.

6. In a massaging device, the invention comprising a vibrator including a casing, a shaft included in said vibrator and mounted on said casing and being reciprocable, an elongated massager member having one end thereof releasably attached to said shaft and extending transversely therefrom for reciprocation therewith, means on said shaft connecting said member thereto in a non-rotat able manner, said member being of a length at least that of said casing and with the other end of said member being offset from the plane of the remainder thereof, the offset end including a plurality of spaced-apart finger portions for engaging the body of the user in the massaging process.

References (Zited in the file ofthis patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 2,128,790 Barbour Aug. 30, 19-38 2,187,076 Erickson Jan. 16, 1940 2,319,206 Buck May 18, 194-3 FOREIGN PATENTS 51,137,206 France Jan. 7, 1957 

4. IN A MASSAGING DEVICE, THE INVENTION COMPRISING AN ELECTRO-MAGNETIC VIBRATOR INCLUDING A CASING HAVING A HANDLE PORTION AT ONE END THEREOF AND BEING OF A REDUCED SIZE RELATIVE TO THE REMAINDER THEREOF, A SHAFT INCLUDED IN SAID VIBRATOR AND EXTENDING FROM SAID CASING ON ONE SIDE THEREOF, A SUPPORT MEMBER RELEASABLY ATTACHED TO SAID CASING FOR RELEASABLY SUPPORTING SAID CASING WITH SAID SHAFT ON THE UPPER SIDE THEREOF, SAID SUPPORT MEMBER INCLUDING A BASE PLATE AND SPRING CLIPS ATTACHED TO SAID BASE PLATE AND EXTENDING THEREABOVE TO A HEIGHT BELOW THE PLANE OF THE UPPER END OF SAID SHAFT, SAID SPRING CLIPS BEING DISPOSED BOTH ON OPPOSITE SIDES OF SAID HANDLE PORTION AND AT THE OTHER END OF SAID CASING OPPOSITE SAID HANDLE PORTION, AND A MASSAGING ELEMENT RELEASABLY ATTACHED TO SAID SHAFT. 